From Mother Jones · Oliver Milman · · 1m 30s
Trump's war sparks accidental environmentalism
Trump's Iran war accelerates clean energy but undermines US climate progress.
In brief
Trump's Iran war accelerates clean energy but undermines US climate progress. Trump's Iran war has spurred global clean energy investment but his policies have stalled US renewable progress. Originally reported by Mother Jones.
Trump's Iran war
President Donald Trump launched the war with Iran on October 1, 2026.
Global clean energy shift
Countries cut oil use and switched to solar and wind power after the war began.
Emissions drop
Global fossil fuel emissions are projected to drop 0.5 percent this year.
US environmental rollback
Trump's administration weakened pollution rules and cut renewable energy projects.
Trump's environmental stance
Trump called environmentalists terrorists and dismissed climate change as a hoax.
Gavin Newsom's view
Gavin Newsom called Trump the 'greatest gift' to environmentalists due to the Iran war.
Fossil fuel profits
Major oil companies gained over $90 billion in the first three months of the war.
Exxon's outlook
Exxon forecasts 105 million barrels of oil daily by 2050, up from 100 million barrels in 2023.
Panama's view
Panama's environment minister says all oil produced will be burned.
Global solar surge
Solar installations now exceed 100,000 daily in Africa, with electric cars rising globally.
Clean energy momentum
Clean energy investment now doubles fossil fuel investment, with most new power from renewables.
The question
Does Trump's war make him an accidental environmentalist?
The big picture
Trump's Iran war has spurred global clean energy investment but his policies have stalled US renewable progress.
